A MULTI-million-pound complex that would have brought a Smith & Jones pub and a Prezzo Pizza restaurant to March has been turned down by a Government inspector. A London developer wanted to demolish the vacant Freezer Centre in Station Road and replace it

A MULTI-million-pound complex that would have brought a Smith & Jones pub and a Prezzo Pizza restaurant to March has been turned down by a Government inspector.

A London developer wanted to demolish the vacant Freezer Centre in Station Road and replace it with a two-and-a-half-storey block which it considered a "viable and exciting solution to a neglected urban site".

Fenland District Council, however, rejected the plans, which included 11 flats, after protests from councillors, and now its decision has been supported on appeal by Philip Goodman of the Government's Planning Inspectorate.

Both Argos and New Look considered moving to the site but Stewart Deering, a director of developers Reef Estates, said both withdrew because of the "extremely volatile" retail market.

He had hoped a pub and a pizza restaurant would fit the bill but now Mr Goodman has sided with councillors claiming the proposed development would increase late-night noise and disturbance.

"In my judgement the very close proximity of the Jim Hocking Court flats and the location of the side windows and main bar restaurant doorway on Station Road, would be likely to lead to a noticeable more disturbing level of late night noise," he said.

Mr Goodman believes some form of shopping and housing mix is suitable for the site but not a full scale bar and restaurant as presently proposed.

Ironically Mr Goodman did not believe lack of car parking for the new flats to be a problem, even though this was a major objection from some councillors.

"In my view, given the site's central location, its proximity to public transport services and the level of public car parking nearby, I do not consider this to be a major stumbling block," he said.